April 26, 2024 – Emporia State captured the senior day doubleheader sweep over Newman with a 14-12 win in game one and a walk-off 6-5 win in game two on Friday evening at Trusler Sports Complex.
Game 1 (ESU 14, NU 12)
The Jets jumped in front of the Hornets in game one as they picked up three runs in the first. Emporia State drew four walks in the bottom half and despite the Hornets not getting a hit, they picked up a run on a balk to make the score 3-1. After Newman picked up another run in the top of the second, Emporia State picked up three more of their own. An RBI single by
Logan Myers, an RBI double by
Kadyn Williams and a sacrifice fly by
Jovanni Toledo made the score level at 4-4.
Newman scored again in the third to retake a 5-4 lead in the top of the third. In the bottom half,
Mason Sturdy drew a leadoff walk followed by a single by
Joe Daneff. After the first out,
Drew Jennings gave the Hornets a 7-5 lead with his first career home run.
Eli Hernandez entered the game in the fourth and tossed a scoreless frame with two strikeouts. Emporia State expanded their lead with six runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Mason Sturdy delivered a three-run home run to make the score 10-5. An RBI groundout by
Andrew Rantz followed by
Drew Jennings second home run of the game built a 12-5 lead and the Hornets rounded out their six-run fourth on a wild pitch.
Newman scored two more in the fifth to make the score 13-7 and the score remained 13-7 through the sixth frame. Both teams scored a run in the seventh as Emporia State led 14-8. After four runs in the eighth for the Jets and a scoreless bottom half for the Hornets,
Hayden Baumwart completed a five-out save with two strikeouts in the final inning to clinch game one 14-12.
At the plate, seven different Hornets recorded a hit with
Logan Myers and
Drew Jennings recording two of their own. Jennings drove in four runs on his two home runs and
Mason Sturdy went 1-1 with three RBI, four walks and three runs scored.
Eli Hernandez picked up his first win of the season with 3.1 innings of relief with four strikeouts.
Hayden Baumwart picked up his first career save as he picked up the final five outs with three strikeouts.
Game 2 (ESU 6, NU 5)
Graham Brunner got the game two start with and picked up two strikeouts in the first inning. The Hornets picked up two runs in the first on a two-out single by
Mason Sturdy to give Emporia State a 2-0 lead.
Newman put together two runs on four hits in the second as they tied the game 2-2. The game remained deadlocked at 2-2 through the first five innings. The Jets threatened in the sixth inning as they got a leadoff double against Brunner and after a groundout to move the runner to third base, the Hornets brought
Trent Warstler in from the bullpen to relieve the Hornet starter. After picking up a foul out, Warstler picked up a strikeout to keep the game tied at 2-2. After the first two outs of the inning and a hit-by-pitch,
Andrew Rantz homered down the left field line to put the Hornets ahead 4-2. Following a scoreless seventh, the Jets picked up three runs on three hits, including a two-run home run with two outs as they took a 5-4 lead over Emporia State.
Emporia State entered the bottom of the ninth still trailing 5-4 and opened the inning with a leadoff walk by
Kadyn Williams. After Williams advanced to second on a groundout,
Patryk Hernandez was hit by a pitch and
Joel Anderson pinch ran for Hernandez. After taking a strike,
Mason Sturdy singled to right center which scored Williams and after a throwing error by the Jets, Anderson came in to score the walk-off run as the Hornets claimed the 6-5 win to sweep the senior day doubleheader.
At the plate,
Mason Sturdy went 2-3 with three RBI and
Andrew Rantz went 1-3 with two RBI on his sixth inning home run.
Kadyn Williams,
TJ Racherbaumer and
Patryk Hernandez each drew multiple walks.
Graham Brunner picked up a no-decision as he pitched 5.1 innings with two earned runs with eight strikeouts.
Tanner Dawe picked up his fourth win of the season after tossing a scoreless ninth inning.
Emporia State is scheduled to wrap up their series against Newman on Monday, April 29. Game time is to be determined.
